Christmas gift guide on a budget for the family

Last week on the blog we introduced the first Christmas 2017 #giftideas guide which covered my family. Another thing we shared was how to make your home ready for the festive season. Both of these posts definitely made us feel like the Christmas preparations can officially begin. I am sure you’ve got so much planned for the big day and even if not its still ok. Over the years I have seen Christmas develop into more of a commercial shop than family time. Because of this, most of us often find ourselves in debt because we want to please materially.

Well just in case you want gift ideas that will not cost you an arm and a leg, here is a quirky guide. This Christmas gift guide is for the whole family.

Christmas gift guide on a budget for the family

Depending on your approach, shopping for Christmas can be super exciting or a bit stressful! Either way, we all have similar objectives in mind — to buy a gift that someone will love. However, it can get boring buying the same sorts of gifts year after year — there’s only so many aftershave sets that one man can look happy to receive! Instead, we have created a gift guide of quirky presents for everyone on your Christmas list.

For children

Children can be difficult to please and it’s hard to keep up with the latest technology that all their friends may have. Here are some gift ideas that are different to what they might normally receive:

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Younger children can get over excited when it comes to Christmas, eagerly awaiting the day that they can open their gifts. One good present idea for children is a DIY stocking making kit. It can be made into a fun family activity on Christmas Eve or in the school holidays — it’s something different and it allows them to have their very own, personalised stocking!

For older children, a smartphone projector could be a fun gift. It can be used for watching films and TV shows — they simply slip their smartphone into the cardboard box and the glass lens projects the screen onto a blank wall.

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Young people love taking selfies! Whether it’s to post on social media or capture a fun memory with their friends, they’re always snap happy. But, could a ‘dronie’ be the next selfie? The latest in drone technology means it’s able to take photographs and videos from a height. Differing in camera quality and flight time, there’s a full range that you can browse here.

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For children who enjoy drawing, you could buy them the Osmo creative set. Different to the traditional colouring book and pen — this set brings their creativity to life with the help of a tablet or smartphone.

Fitness bands have been must-haves for adults for a few years now, but did you know that children can get involved too? Fitness bands designed for children are durable and let them set daily activity goals whilst tracking steps, sleep and recommended exercise.

Your other half

It’s always nice to get your other half a gift that they weren’t expecting. These quirky gifts should surprise them and put a smile on their face.

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Does your other half like cooking? And beer? How about buying them a cookbook with recipes on how to do both! Browse the collection online and choose one that you think would be suitable for your partner.

Vintage is always in, and one thing that has come back into fashion is the instant camera. The retro-style polaroid camera is a good gift for anyone who loves taking photos and saving them to look back on later.

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For a more upmarket gift how about something that everyone can enjoy — a pizza oven! The retro oven can create other things too such as bacon, eggs and pancakes and features a non-stick coating with various temperature settings.

One idea for men is a twist on a popular fashion trend. Retailers of high-quality leather boots, Frank Wright, offer a blue suede derby shoe that is a contemporary addition to any man’s wardrobe — different to any other shoes that he owns!

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For a pricy gift, why not take your loved one on at trip like no other? Reykjavik in Iceland is one place that’s different to the traditional city break — spend the night under the stars and take the chance of spotting the Northern Lights if you stay in the winter. Or how about taking them to the set of one of their favourite films or movies? Dubrovnik in Croatia is a beautiful setting and you can spot many of the scenes from the much-loved show, Game of Thrones.

Elders, aunts uncles and family friends!

For everyone else, here are gifts that will come in handy or that they may appreciate:

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For the avid traveller, a scratch map could be the perfect gift. They can frame it and place it somewhere where they can appreciate it — remembering the places that they’ve visited and the things that they’ve seen! As they visit new places, they can scratch these off too, highlighting their recent adventures.

For a keen gardener, how about an indoor allotment? Your gardening friend may be upset that they can’t spend as much time in the garden as they usually do in the colder months and this could be a nifty alternative. They can plant herbs for cooking or smaller plants and appreciate it in the comfort of their home!

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Know someone who is always losing their keys? The Tile Mate could be the perfect gift for them. The small Bluetooth tracker can be attached to anything, from phones to keys and bags — they’ll never lose their sought after items again.

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As we said earlier, vintage items always come back around. How about buying a vinyl turntable for a family or friend? Many people have saved their old vinyls for memories and would love to be able to play them again! You can also buy new music in vinyl form for them to enjoy too.

8 Comments

I’m all about the thought behind the gift over how extravagant the gift was – it means so much more and your gift guide goes to show exactly how you can purchase inexpensive gifts, yet can be still very touching and thoughtful!

I am all about the budget friendly options! There’s so much out there that you can buy for very little that will nevertheless give the recipient a big smile on their face on Christmas morning! A scratch map and an indoor allotment are fantastic and really creative ideas, I’d be over the moon to receive them myself!

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Hi, I am Miranda-Anosa, a 30+ Project Manager in Pharma and Lifestyle Blogger located in Oxfordshire. I am a Travel Addict and I enjoy flying off abroad or enjoying a staycation close to home. If I am not travelling, I am busy checking out local eateries and sampling the best dishes. And on the off chance I have eaten too much, I then shift my focus on trying to look presentable in simple, affordable outfits.